Meet Physicians for Fair Coverage

Powered by Physicians for Fair Coverage (PFC), End the Surprise Insurance Gap is a nation-wide effort focused on improving patient protections, promoting transparency in medical care and increasing access to care by ending the surprise insurance gap. We work alongside national, state and local physician and patient advocate groups who support fair coverage.

Leadership

Board Of Directors

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE – OFFICERS

Sherif Zaafran, MD

Chair

US Anesthesia Partners (USAP)

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Sherif Zaafran, M.D., of Houston, is the president of the Texas Medical Board. Dr. Zaafran is an anesthesiologist and president of US Anesthesia Partners Southwest Division. He is a delegate for the Texas Medical Association (TMA) and an alternate delegate and member of the Committee on Future Models Anesthesia for the American Society of Anesthesiologists. Additionally, he is chair of the Government Affairs Committee for the Texas Society of Anesthesiologists and is vice-chair for the Harris County Medical Society Delegation to TMA. Zaafran studied biochemistry at The University of Texas at Austin and received a Doctor of Medicine from The University of Texas McGovern Medical School in Houston.

Anthony Gabriel, MD

Chair-Elect

Radiology Partners

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Dr. Gabriel graduated with his medical degree from The Ohio State University and became a clinical instructor at UCLA Medical Center in 1993. While a practicing physician, Anthony earned his MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles, Anderson School of Management and then joined DaVita Inc. (now DaVita Healthcare Partners). During his time with DaVita, Anthony was promoted from Vice President of Commercial Patients to COO, Integration and managed the integration of Gambro Healthcare, which doubled the size of DaVita. In 2008, Anthony rose to CIO leading 1,000 teammates, 300 contractors and $150 million budget developing several new systems for DaVita. Anthony cofounded Radiology Partners in 2012.

Brett Cannon, MD

Treasurer

Apollo MD

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Dr. Cannon earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, NC. He then trained at Emory University, where he served as Chief Resident. After completing his medical training, Dr. Cannon also earned an MBA from the University of Georgia. Dr. Brett Cannon joined ApolloMD in 2000 and has served as Medical Director within multiple facilities, bringing his expertise in emergency department flow and efficiency, healthcare economics, and health system logistics. He obtained a Lean certification from the University of Georgia and applies Lean techniques within each of the departments that he oversees. As Medical Director, Dr. Cannon led his emergency department to recognition by Press Ganey with the Compass Award recognizing outstanding patient satisfaction scores. Currently, Dr. Cannon serves as President overseeing clinical operations within the WellStar Health System in Atlanta.

Michele H. Kimball

Secretary / President and CEO

Physicians for Fair Coverage

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Michele Kimball has been an executive and government relations professional for much of her career. With a deep understanding of health, long-term care, and consumer protection issues, Michele served as the first Director of AARP Minnesota where she built and led a team in the successful development and implementation of AARP’s advocacy, education, grassroots and volunteer engagement initiatives. In this role, she also served as an advisor or board member for numerous public and private entities working to improve quality and access to affordable health and long-term care.
Earlier, Michele served on the Federal Affairs Health Team of AARP’s Office of Legislation and Public Policy in Washington, DC, and co-led the AARP Medicare Fraud Team that established an award-winning national campaign to fight Medicare fraud in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Justice.
Prior to her work with AARP, Michele was a staff member of the United States House of Representatives Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, a staff assistant with the Government Relations Office of Merrill Lynch, and a Courtroom Intern for the United States Supreme Court.
In 2013, Michele left AARP to establish Aging reDesign, a consultancy to help create transformative change for aging in place through innovation and technology. Key clients, among others, have included Buurtzorg Nederland, the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care (C-TAC), GrandPad, TPT/PBS Next Avenue, and WindowMirror.
Michele has a degree in Public Administration and Public Law from Alfred University in Alfred, New York, a Certificate in Strategic Management from St. Thomas University in Minneapolis, MN, and a Certificate in Women’s Leadership from St. Catherine’s University in St. Paul, MN.

Kip Schumacher, MD

Immediate Past Chair

Schumacher Clinical Partners

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Dr. Kip Schumacher is the board-certified Emergency Medicine physician who has used his knowledge of the delivery of Emergency Medicine to develop Schumacher Clinical Partners (formerly known as Schumacher Group). Dr. Schumacher is renowned for his personal commitment to excellence. Dr. Schumacher is also a national leader in policy arenas, helping shape the future of healthcare. He has published several articles on the leadership challenges facing the healthcare industry, has participated on nonprofit boards dedicated to healthcare reform and has been honored as a “Hero of Emergency Medicine” by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP).

Members

Jeff Bettinger, MD

Ex Officio Member

Tony Cirillo, MD

US Acute Care Solutions

Ed Gaines, JD, CCP

Ex Officio Member

Jeffrey Meier, MD

US Radiology Specialists

Yogin Patel, MD

ApolloMD

Randy Pilgrim, MD, FACEP

Schumacher Clinical Partners

Thomas Sugarman, MD

Vituity

Alternates

Dominic Bagnoli, MD

US Acute Care Solutions

Iva Lee Clement

Schumacher Clinical Partners

Rich Heller, MD, MBA

Radiology Partners

Kevin Klauer, DO

TeamHealth

Bing Pao, MD

Vituity

Amy Sanford, JD

US Anesthesia Partners (USAP)

Julie Szeker

US Radiology Specialists

Staff

Michele H. Kimball

President and CEO

Physicians for Fair Coverage

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Michele Kimball has been an executive and government relations professional for much of her career. With a deep understanding of health, long-term care, and consumer protection issues, Michele served as the first Director of AARP Minnesota where she built and led a team in the successful development and implementation of AARP’s advocacy, education, grassroots and volunteer engagement initiatives. In this role, she also served as an advisor or board member for numerous public and private entities working to improve quality and access to affordable health and long-term care.

Earlier, Michele served on the Federal Affairs Health Team of AARP’s Office of Legislation and Public Policy in Washington, DC, and co-led the AARP Medicare Fraud Team that established an award-winning national campaign to fight Medicare fraud in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Justice.

Prior to her work with AARP, Michele was a staff member of the United States House of Representatives Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, a staff assistant with the Government Relations Office of Merrill Lynch, and a Courtroom Intern for the United States Supreme Court.

In 2013, Michele left AARP to establish Aging reDesign, a consultancy to help create transformative change for aging in place through innovation and technology. Key clients, among others, have included Buurtzorg Nederland, the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care (C-TAC), GrandPad, TPT/PBS Next Avenue, and WindowMirror.

Michele has a degree in Public Administration and Public Law from Alfred University in Alfred, New York, a Certificate in Strategic Management from St. Thomas University in Minneapolis, MN, and a Certificate in Women’s Leadership from St. Catherine’s University in St. Paul, MN.

Nicole Duritz

Vice President, State Affairs

Physicians for Fair Coverage

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With over 15 years of senior-level non-profit management, strategic planning and issue campaign expertise, Nicole Duritz is a communications leader with a track record of designing-award winning learning programs that engage and empower target audiences.

Most recently, Nicole oversaw the health practice and spearheaded communications strategy for large regional health organizations as a Managing Senior Partner with Washington, DC based SP Consulting.

As Vice President of Health for AARP’s Education & Outreach group, Nicole directed AARP’s public education efforts on a variety of issues, including health security, Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, caregiving and long-term care. Nicole and her team designed consumer-focused resources and tools to ensure that the public had the information and support necessary to make decisions on critical life issues.

She has done hundreds of interviews with national print and broadcast media, including ABC, NBC, FOX, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post, discussing Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, health costs, and caregiving.

Prior to her work in Education & Outreach, Nicole served as Campaign Director for AARP’s Health Reform Implementation Campaign and was responsible for developing and driving the execution of the campaign strategy. Nicole’s tenure with AARP spans over 19 years, including work on strategic policy planning, voter education and internet advocacy.

Before joining AARP, Nicole was a principal with e-Advocates, a multi-million dollar internet advocacy consulting firm. She started her career on Capitol Hill working for the United States House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health and the Environment.

Nicole lives in Virginia with her husband and twin 14-year-old sons and runs a community outreach foundation in her spare time.

Danielle Del Carlo

Manager, State Affairs

Physicians for Fair Coverage

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Danielle comes to PFC with considerable experience in government relations and issues management with an advocacy background in healthcare policy.Previously, Danielle managed the government relations practice at the Public Affairs Council where she served as the lead expert on federal and state government relations and as the primary contact for the public affairs community on best practices and emerging trends in those areas. Danielle also worked as governmental affairs director for Mosaic and served as a director for the National Automatic Merchandising Association, where she gained valuable experience in federal, state and local government relations as well as PAC and grassroots efforts. Danielle studied communications at Loyola University of Chicago and earned her law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law.

Tasha Barnes

Executive Administrator

Physicians for Fair Coverage

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Tasha Barnes recently joined PFC as the Administrative Manager. A graduate of George Mason University, Tasha has nearly a decade of experience spanning marketing, business development and operations. Prior to joining PFC, she worked in the adult learning industry, as well as for a global law firm in Washington, DC.